What's special about Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer?C4 utilises a covalent or chemical bond to actually become an extension of the plastic molecule it's protecting. Not to be confused with much weaker electrostatic bonds used by, amongst others, ptfe based polymers C4 actually swaps part of its molecular structure with the surface molecules of your car's trim.

What this means is that you now have a protective coating of unparalleled durability. Unlike many trim products on the market C4 is an exceptionally thin (circa 30nm) optically clear film which means that it does not add an unattractive gloss film to the surface instead it restores all but the most faded trim to an as new condition. You can expect approximately 2 years from a single application.

£20! For 15ml! You're 'avin' a larf! Read on ...

With a couple cars around 20 years old, I really need something that actually works on plastics. I have tried a lot of products, few have impressed and even less have lasted. Resigning myself to repeated applications of plastic treatment products, I found one I really like to use and which I find easy to use. Good thing that product has other uses because I think I will not be doing this task any longer.

Gtechniq C4 is a for raw plastics. It bonds to plastics at a nano level and actually joins in with the "dna" of plastic, molecularly altering it, darkening and glossing ... and protecting ... and all this is reputed to actually last!

I have a few areas which I had ear-marked for the C4 treatment, or coating I should say: wing mirrors, windows surrounds, rear light clusters, rear number plate surrounds and wheel arch flares. The rest of the "plastics" on our cars are actually painted and lacquered.

To work ... I used neat IPA and a number of make-up remover pads. Well, my Mrs has requisitioned at least one spray bottle of Serious Performance Ultra Citrus Cleaner for household tasks, so I thought the return of favour was fair. Yes, make-up remover pads. Best get the kind of cushioned ones which cannot be ripped apart easily - any fluff is a bit of a pig if it catches on old rubber, or something like.

With the plastics clean and free of any previous product, they did look in a sorry state.

Back to the cost. Let me put your mind at rest - you need one inversion (yes, one inversion ... that's holding the pad over the mouth of the bottle, and it's a tiny bottle, and invert the bottle) to do a whole wing mirror casing and more. I have used about 8ml, just over half way and covered A LOT of plastic!

The guidance says to apply with a make-up remover pad and to wipe off with a microfibre towel. That towel should be an old towel because this stuff crystallises into the fabric of the towel rendering it pretty useless for other tasks. Having coated my laptop at work on Friday, I was used to the drill and decided to deviate slightly ...

I am known for my "thin coats" Haze is waste!

That one inversion covers and covers well - I'm not being stingy. When the product is applied it is VERY obvious where you have applied it to. Once the area was covered, I flipped the pad over and worked the product over and over until it was a very thin, even coat and actually some of the gloss had removed. That seemed to be a good technique - don't overload the pad and use dry parts of the pad to wipe off excess product. For the thrifty, that excess product can be stored for a short time (less than an hour) and used as a "collective", more like a mini-hand pad to cover a larger area which I did on my white car spoiler at the end of the session. After about an hour, the product cures solid - the pads become hard and even brittle.

Please excuse some of the dirt in the pictures - I washed the cars on Friday night and they've been out in the rain yesterday, but the areas that have been treated were pre-cleaned with neat IPA.

... and some of the wing mirrors. I had to be quick - even on the slightest slope, those beads roll off quick. In fact, the time it takes to focus and the bead was gone. I had to repeat this a few times.

In summary, pretty good value for money - you do use more product per pound than with traditional products but then it is supposed to last a lot longer and that initial look is supposed to last for the duration. You do need to wear gloves, since IPA and the product itself will get on your hands and into your pores. Beyond that, the product is foolproof to use, even a pleasure!

right,that's it - i'm having some of that .i've read up on the c4 and it sounded ideal but due to the cost i didn't want to risk the dosh only to be disapointed.the gtechniq stuff really does look top stuff,i was also impressed with the glass sealant that you and phil used.where did you order your's from paul?i feel an order coming on

Fantastic stuff, it is ... or appears to be. If it's anything like the G1 I've had on glass, it will pan out to be quite fantastic.

It is for RAW plastics only, though ... in a couple of the pictures, you might notice a streakiness. That's where it was applied to rubber. It is for plastics only - it cannot bond to anything else, from what I understand of the science.

Order direct with Gtechniq. Send gtechrob on DW a PM with your DW name and he'll apply a discount to your account. When you are logged in, all products are automatically discounted so they're cheaper than if you were not logged in and no need to enter a code or anything.

How do you thing it will apply to a grill or what do you think would be best to use if at all possible?

Your grille? That honey comb of plastic? I think it would do okay - do one invert on a pad and work it into the hole, then the next, then the next and so on ... as it wears off, invert again. I reckon your grille could be done inside 5 re-visits to the bottle.

It is very easy to see where you have applied and ... after a few minutes, very easy to see where you have not. As I said in the blurb, it is good to go back over with the reverse of the make-up pad taking off excess and re-distributing to a fresh area.

This is great Paul! Your tests have began and so far so good! Guys what you have to take into account is this stuff is supposed to last years, not days or weeks! Looking good so far though.....
15ml sounds pathetic but when i sent Paul 8 ml ish of G1 he probs thought the cheeky b****** but once you dab the supplied makeup pad you'll realise just how far it will go. Apparently you can do a full car with 15 ml of C1! Phil

_________________CYC Car Of The Month Winner November 09
?XBOX LIVE & PSN: GIZTO29

Last edited by GIZTO29 on Sun May 30, 2010 10:09 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:54 amPosts: 1306Location: On full throttle...along way from where I started off

pjgh wrote:

RPM wrote:

How do you thing it will apply to a grill or what do you think would be best to use if at all possible?

Your grille? That honey comb of plastic? I think it would do okay - do one invert on a pad and work it into the hole, then the next, then the next and so on ... as it wears off, invert again. I reckon your grille could be done inside 5 re-visits to the bottle.

It is very easy to see where you have applied and ... after a few minutes, very easy to see where you have not. As I said in the blurb, it is good to go back over with the reverse of the make-up pad taking off excess and re-distributing to a fresh area.

Yeah that honey combe stuff top and bottom set!
Sounds really good!

_________________"Anything happens to that car, and I'm gonna come round your house and stamp on all your toys. Got it? Good kids!" - Gene Hunt

... when i sent Paul 8 ml ish of G1 he probs thought the cheeky b****** but once you dab the supplied makeup pad you'll realise just how far it will go. Apparently you can do a full car with 15 ml of C1!

I didn't at all ... I thought it was very generous. I know what you're saying, though and I had to experience it to believe it. I know for certain that RainX would have worn off by now but G1 is still just as good today as it was when I applied it.

I am feeling my way into the rest of the range. C2 blew me over - it is like glass care on paint. There will be more reviews - I have leather care, fabric care and lots of other gear to try out.

I very much doubt it, but I might come back in a couple of weeks and say it's worn off. That would put this product exactly on a par with EVERYTHING else on the market ... and remember, Black Wow ain't cheap! If it lasts ... in real terms ... one, two or three months, it will have paid for itself and more.

We like products here ... and we like to use them. This product really is nice to use - it goes on well and it is easy to see what you're doing, where you've applied and then you get a long work time to re-work it to the gloss you want. Very VERY good!

... when i sent Paul 8 ml ish of G1 he probs thought the cheeky b****** but once you dab the supplied makeup pad you'll realise just how far it will go. Apparently you can do a full car with 15 ml of C1!

I didn't at all ... I thought it was very generous. I know what you're saying, though and I had to experience it to believe it. I know for certain that RainX would have worn off by now but G1 is still just as good today as it was when I applied it.

I am feeling my way into the rest of the range. C2 blew me over - it is like glass care on paint. There will be more reviews - I have leather care, fabric care and lots of other gear to try out.

I very much doubt it, but I might come back in a couple of weeks and say it's worn off. That would put this product exactly on a par with EVERYTHING else on the market ... and remember, Black Wow ain't cheap! If it lasts ... in real terms ... one, two or three months, it will have paid for itself and more.

We like products here ... and we like to use them. This product really is nice to use - it goes on well and it is easy to see what you're doing, where you've applied and then you get a long work time to re-work it to the gloss you want. Very VERY good!

I didnt mean that literally Paul, i was just using it as a precursor for how little is needed to meet your goal. So youve used the C2 aswell and second Ash's compliments?
Phil

_________________CYC Car Of The Month Winner November 09
?XBOX LIVE & PSN: GIZTO29

I didnt mean that literally Paul, i was just using it as a precursor for how little is needed to meet your goal. So youve used the C2 aswell and second Ash's compliments?

I know, mate - I know exactly what you were saying. Forums are not often the best way of communicating nuances in the written text.

C2? Yes, I am astonished! I want to try it further to confirm that astonishment, but I am someone who needs a lot of convincing often - usually, I go with my heart but this stuff is a quantum leap into a whole new type of product and one half of me wants to jump straight in and the other half says,"hang on ... what about ... this .. and that ... and ...".

Haha, most people on here will hopefully know me enough to get that sarcasm now as i feel we're close enough knit?? That sounds so girly but hey, im glad youve had a chance to try the c2 aswell. What did you try it on in the end? I really think it deserves freshly da'd paint before i use it...........so you reckon its good enough for the barbie? Would you say an application of Lime Prime Lite would be needed before IPA for wax stains? Oh and i forgot to mention my thoughts on the results! Looks bloody great but like you say Paul most of them do initially. What we're looking for is longevity isnt it as this will separate it from the 'others'.
Phil

_________________CYC Car Of The Month Winner November 09
?XBOX LIVE & PSN: GIZTO29

As I said, I know that RainX would have been long gone by now compared to G1. If this coating lasts as well, I will be impressed ... and if it continues to last, I will be thrilled.

I like detailing, but sometimes it is a chore. We've discussed this before, but if all the little things kind of looked after themselves leaving me to enjoy the bits I like playing with, I'll be a very happy chap! Glass and plastics ... and sides ... if they'd look after themselves, I'd be a happy chap. The convertible roof is a bit of a chore, too, as is the metal coated support frame inside. Leather, I like, but two whole cars of the stuff and I'd just like one to look after itself - the 'vert is a fun car; yeah, I'd like that one to look after itself.

... more reviews to come as I try out the rest of the range.

GIZTO29 wrote:

... im glad youve had a chance to try the c2 aswell. What did you try it on in the end?

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